Agencies
Mumbai, April 17
In an unbelievable game of T20 cricket, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) mauled the Mumbai Indians (MI) by six wickets at the Wankhede Stadium. Chasing 184 to win the game, CSK blazed away to victory with openers Brendon McCullum and Dwayne Smith smashing the ball all over the park, putting up 109 in 7.2 overs. Once CSK had that start, MI never looked in the game and could only go through the motions. At the innings break, they would have felt they had done well to post 183 after the early struggle, but that was put to sword with CSK’s unparalleled belligerence.
From the outset, McCullum and Smith attacked the bowling. It was in the fourth over, which was bowled by Lasith Malinga, which helped them take the game by the scruff of the neck. The Sri Lankan slinger was treated with disdain as he was plundered for 21 runs. J Suchith, the young left-arm spinner, came on to bowl the next over and was taken apart for 23 runs. Both batsmen played through the line. McCullum punished anything short, while Smith targeted the boundaries down the ground. In the powerplay, CSK had scored 91 runs, with Smith working his way to 50.
The carnage continued even after the powerplay as Pawan Suyal was taken apart for 17. CSK went past their hundred, making it all look mind-boggling. It was only Harbhajan Singh’s eighth over that helped MI dent CSK a touch as he dismissed both openers, but by then CSK needed to score at less than a run-a-ball. McCullum was dismissed for a 20-ball 46, while Smith took only 30 deliveries for his 62. They had hit a total of 14 fours and five sixes during their partnership. CSK finished it quote easily with Suresh Raina in the centre. When compared to the preceding carnage, CSK’s final dash looked like a slow train. They ultimately overhauled the target with a little more than three overs to spare. Raina remained unbeaten on 43.
MI will look back and wonder where their bowling plans went awry. They had done extremely well to post a total of 183 after a stuttering start. Having reworked their batting line-up yet again, MI lost three quick wickets inside the fourth over. To add to the surprise, Ambati Rayudu was held back and Harbhajan Singh walked in at No. 5. He did manage to help Rohit Sharma in fashioning a recovery as they put up 45.However, the partnership that helped MI get that score was the Kieron Pollard-Rohit stand of 75, which consumed a little over five overs. Coming in to bat at 57 for four in the 10th over, Pollard began with a six and continued to smash it around. It was brute force at one end, while silken touch at the other. Rohit’s 30-ball fifty was eclipsed by Pollard’s big hitting 64. The West Indian continued with Rayudu post Rohit’s dismissal as MI went up to 183. His brute force was awe-inspiring, for even the mishits went a long-way. In the end, the McCullum-Smith show is what everyone will talk about.
Most of the bowlers had a forgettable day in the office. MI’s bowling card made an embarrassing read, reflecting the carnage on the day. CSK too had their issues although they bowled well upfront. One can say that Ashish Nehra clearly stood out with three for 23 in his four overs.
